Ocean & Air Freight Shipping From Vietnam to the United States

Bilateral trade between Vietnam and the United States has grown exponentially in previous decades, making Vietnam one of America’s fastest-growing Asian trading partners. 

In 2022, Vietnam shipped $127.5 billion worth of goods to the United States, with the top imports including textiles, footwear, and headgear. This accounted for 17% of the total U.S. imports of these commodities. 

The trade relationship between the two nations has become an important factor influencing economic interaction between Southeast Asia and the United States. 

If you want to take advantage of this and ship your goods from Vietnam to the U.S., you’ve come to the right place. Here’s your complete guide to your ocean and air freight shipping options.  

What Are the Options for Shipping Freight From Vietnam to the United States?

When shipping goods from Vietnam to the United States, you can use ocean or air freight. 

Ocean Freight From Vietnam to the United States

Ocean freight is the most budget-friendly and flexible way to ship goods from Vietnam to the U.S. It doesn’t cost much to ship cargo by sea, depending on the size of your commodities. Ocean freight is also flexible enough to provide you with two modes of container shipping: less than container load and full container load. 

LCL is used by shippers transporting small volumes of goods. It involves the consolidation process where cargo belonging to different shippers are consolidated and shipped together in one container. This makes LCL economical as each shipper only pays for the space their goods occupy. 

FCL, on the other hand, is where a shipper rents the space in an entire container for their goods alone. While allowing them more control and security for their shipment, it can get expensive because the cost is not shared with other shippers. FCL is then best for larger cargo so the space inside the unit can be maximized. 

Air Freight from Vietnam to the United States

The other way to ship goods from Vietnam to the United States is air freight. This is the fastest mode of international shipping, but it’s also the most expensive. 

Air freight is generally best for time-sensitive and perishable goods that need to reach the United States quickly. It’s also ideal for high-value shipments, as stricter airport regulations can guarantee cargo security. 

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From Vietnam to the United States?

The cost of shipping goods from Vietnam to the United States will depend on the following factors: 

• Your choice of ocean or air shipping
• Your preference for door-to-door, port-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-port shipment
• Your consignment’s weight, volume, and size
• Weight and size limits

Determine your shipping costs by using our online freight costs calculator. The table below shows the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from Vietnam to the United States:

How long does it take to ship cargo from Vietnam to the United States?

The transit time for goods shipped from Vietnam to the United States depends mainly on the international shipping mode you select. Additional factors influencing the transit time are:

• The shipping season (peak or low)
• Direct or indirect shipment route
• The trade lane's popularity
• Geopolitical instability
• Potential incidents at ports

How long does it take to ship cargo by sea from Vietnam to the United States?

Ocean freight from Vietnam to the United States will take anywhere from 15 to 50 days.

How long does it take to ship cargo by air from Vietnam to the United States?

Air freight from Vietnam to the United States will take around 2 to 8 days.

For the most accurate estimate, we recommend using our transit time calculator.

Customs Clearance in Vietnam and the United States

When you ship goods from Vietnam to the United States, they will need to go through the customs clearance process once they arrive at the destination port or airport. This requires that you have prepared and submitted the following documents: 

• A commercial invoice
• A packing list
• A certificate of origin
• A letter of credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract between the parties involved)
• A bill of lading for ocean freight or an Airway Bill for air freight

If you need examples of these customs clearance requirements, you can take a look at our full documents list. 

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Now that you know the ways you can ship freight from Vietnam to the U.S., it’s time to choose the right mode of international shipping for you. When choosing between ocean and air freight, your needs, priorities, and the requirements of your cargo should weigh into your decision. Here are some pointers to consider. 

Ocean Freight

If cost-efficiency and flexibility are what you’re after in your shipping endeavor, then we recommend choosing ocean freight. It’s budget-friendly and can accommodate any type of cargo you need to transport. It also offers you two ways to ship your goods by container. 

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL should be right for your shipment if your cargo is: 

• Small in size and quantity 
• Lightweight
• Suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers 
• Not delicate, fragile, or high-value 
• Not requiring special handling or movement 

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

You might consider FCL as the better option if your cargo is: 

• Large in size and quantity 
• Heavy or overweight
• Not suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers
• Delicate, fragile, or high-value 
• Requiring special handling or movement 

Air Freight

If your priority is getting your goods to the U.S. fast, then you should absolutely go for air freight. As the fastest mode of international shipping, it will take only less than 2 weeks for your shipment to complete, making it ideal for time-sensitive and perishable goods. 

If you’re shipping high-value goods, we also recommend transporting them by air. Stricter airport regulations and processes can guarantee the security of your cargo during transit. 

Before settling for air freight, you should know it’s the most expensive mode of international shipping. You should also check if it can accommodate the type of goods you’re transporting, as well as its weight, size, and volume. 

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in Vietnam

Saigon Port

Saigon Port is the main port in Vietnam’s Southern region and is the biggest in the country. It plays an important role in connecting Southeast Vietnam and the Mekong Delta. The port handles over 6 million TEUs per year. 

Cua Lo Port

The Cua Lo Port is part of the Nghe An port cluster and is one of the most important container ports in the group. It is a gateway for goods entering or exiting mainland Southeast Asia. It’s the third-largest port in Vietnam, handling over 8 million tonnes of cargo per year. 

Quang Ninh Port

The Quang Ninh Port is a deep sea port strategically situated in the key economic region of Northern Vietnam. It is one of the region’s most significant ports, ranking second next to the Hai Phong port. 

Cargo ports of arrival in the United States

Port of Houston

The Port of Houston is one of the largest seaports in the world. It mainly serves Houston, Texas. The port spans 50 miles long and houses diverse public and private facilities. It has 2 cargo container terminals and 5 major general cargo terminals. 

Port of South Louisiana

The Port of South Louisiana is located along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It spans 54 miles in length and is the premier sea gateway for U.S. export and import traffic. 

Port of Corpus Christi

The Port of Corpus Christi is the largest port in the United States by total revenue tonnage. It is the third-largest in total waterway tonnage and is also hailed as the largest crude oil export gateway in the U.S. The port is located in Corpus Christi in the state of Texas. 

Air Freight from Vietnam to the United States: An airport guide

Airports of origin in Vietnam

Nội Bài International Airport 

The Nội Bài International Airport is located in the capital city of Vietnam, Hanoi. It is the second largest and busiest international airport in Vietnam. The airport serves as a hub for Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Bamboo Airways, and more. 

Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport 

The Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport serves the largest city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City. It also caters to shippers in the Tan Binh District where it is located. One of the main cargo airports in the nation, it is a hub for Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Bamboo Airways, and more. 

Airports of arrival in the United States

Memphis International Airport

The Memphis International Airport in Tennessee is one of the busiest airports in the world, surpassing all other U.S. airports in terms of total cargo tonnage. It handles over 4 million tonnes of cargo per year, with dedicated cargo facilities that include FedEx’s World Hub. 

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport

The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska handles mostly freight, shipping 80% of all goods shipped by freighter aircraft over the Pacific. It is among the world’s top five airports for cargo throughput, handling over 2 million tonnes of cargo per year. 

Miami International Airport

The Miami International Airport is one of the top airports in the United States for international freight. It is also the second busiest airport in the nation in terms of passenger traffic. The airport handles over 2 million tonnes of cargo per year and has 18 warehouses spanning 3.4 million square feet.